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Notable events involving Oswald include:

The history of HMS Oswald as compiled on this page is extracted from the patrol reports and logbooks of this submarine.

This page was last updated in July 2017.

28 Aug 1939
HMS Oswald (Lt.Cdr. G.M. Sladen, RN) made a short stop at Gibraltar before she continued her passage to Malta. (1)

1 Sep 1939
HMS Oswald (Lt.Cdr. G.M. Sladen, RN) arrived at Malta from the U.K. (2)

2 Sep 1939
HMS Oswald (Lt.Cdr. G.M. Sladen, RN) conducted exercises off Malta. (2)

4 Sep 1939
HMS Oswald (Lt.Cdr. G.M. Sladen, RN) conducted exercises off Malta. (2)

7 Sep 1939
During 7 and 8 September 1939, HMS Oswald (Lt.Cdr. G.M. Sladen, RN), conducted exercises off Malta. These included night exercises. (2)

13 Sep 1939
HMS Oswald (Lt.Cdr. G.M. Sladen, RN) conducted exercises off Malta. (2)

14 Sep 1939
HMS Oswald (Lt.Cdr. G.M. Sladen, RN) conducted exercises off Malta together with HMS Ouse. (2)

22 Sep 1939
HMS Oswald (Lt.Cdr. G.M. Sladen, RN) conducted exercises off Malta. (2)

26 Sep 1939
HMS Oswald (Lt.Cdr. G.M. Sladen, RN) conducted exercises off Malta together with HMS Osiris (Lt.Cdr. R. Sheridan-Patterson, RN). (2)

27 Sep 1939
HMS Oswald (Lt.Cdr. G.M. Sladen, RN) conducted exercises off Malta together with HMS Osiris (Lt.Cdr. R. Sheridan-Patterson, RN). (2)

28 Sep 1939
HMS Oswald (Lt.Cdr. G.M. Sladen, RN) conducted A/S exercises off Malta together with HMS Grafton (Cdr. M.S. Thomas, RN). (2)

29 Sep 1939
HMS Oswald (Lt.Cdr. G.M. Sladen, RN) conducted A/S exercises off Malta together with HMS Grafton (Cdr. M.S. Thomas, RN). (2)

5 Oct 1939
HMS Oswald (Lt.Cdr. G.M. Sladen, RN) conducted exercises off Malta together with HMS Porpoise (Cdr. G.W.G. Simpson, RN) and HMS Cachalot (Lt.Cdr. S.W.F. Bennetts, RN). (3)

7 Oct 1939
HMS Oswald (Lt.Cdr. G.M. Sladen, RN) was docked at Malta for a short refit. (3)

20 Oct 1939
HMS Oswald (Lt.Cdr. G.M. Sladen, RN) was undocked. (3)

24 Oct 1939
During 24 and 25 October 1939, HMS Oswald (Lt.Cdr. G.M. Sladen, RN), conducted exercises off Malta. These included night exercises. A practice attack was made on HMS Devonshire (Capt. J.M. Mansfield, DSC, RN) and several more on HMS Ouse. (3)

30 Oct 1939
HMS Oswald (Lt.Cdr. G.M. Sladen, RN) conducted exercises off Malta. (3)

2 Nov 1939
HMS Oswald (Lt.Cdr. G.M. Sladen, RN) conducted A/S exercises off Malta together with HMS Decoy (Cdr. E.G. McGregor, RN). (4)

4 Nov 1939
HMS Oswald (Lt.Cdr. G.M. Sladen, RN) conducted exercises off Malta. These included a practice attack on HMS Norfolk (Capt. A.G.B. Wilson, DSO, RN) which was conducting gunnery exercises. (5)

7 Nov 1939
HMS Oswald (Lt.Cdr. G.M. Sladen, RN) conducted exercises off Malta. (4)

14 Nov 1939
During 14 and 15 November 1939, HMS Oswald (Lt.Cdr. G.M. Sladen, RN), conducted exercises off Malta. These included night exercises. Practice attacks were made on HMS Ouse. (4)

17 Nov 1939
HMS Oswald (Lt.Cdr. G.M. Sladen, RN) conducted A/S exercises off Malta together with HMS Duncan (Capt. G.R.B. Back, RN). (4)

20 Nov 1939
HMS Oswald (Lt.Cdr. G.M. Sladen, RN) conducted A/S exercises off Malta together with HMS Decoy (Cdr. E.G. McGregor, RN) and HMS Defender (Lt.Cdr. St.J.R.J. Tyrwhitt, RN).

On completion of these exercises HMS Defender set course for the Otranto Strait where she was to conduct a patrol. (4)

23 Nov 1939
HMS Oswald (Lt.Cdr. G.M. Sladen, RN) conducted exercises off Malta. (4)

28 Nov 1939
HMS Oswald (Lt.Cdr. G.M. Sladen, RN) conducted exercises off Malta. During these exercises she also made a practice attack on HMS Barham (Capt. H.T.C. Walker, RN). (4)

29 Nov 1939
HMS Oswald (Lt.Cdr. G.M. Sladen, RN) conducted exercises off Malta together with HMS Otway (Cdr. H.R. Conway, RN). (4)

6 Dec 1939
During 6 and 7 December 1939, HMS Otway (Cdr. H.R. Conway, RN) and HMS Oswald (Lt.Cdr. G.M. Sladen, RN), conducted A/S exercises off Malta together with HMS Defender (Lt.Cdr. St.J.R.J. Tyrwhitt, RN) and HMS Egret (Capt. J.C. Annesley, DSO, RN). These included night exercises. On completion of these exercises HMS Defender proceeded on patrol in the Aegean to the south of Tenedos Island near the Dandarnelles. (6)

9 Dec 1939
HMS Oswald (Lt.Cdr. G.M. Sladen, RN) departed Malta for her 1st war patrol. She was ordered to patrol off the Gulf of Patras, Greece.

For the daily positions of HMS Oswald during this patrol see the map below.

(6)

24 Dec 1939
HMS Oswald (Lt.Cdr. G.M. Sladen, RN) ended her 1st war patrol at Malta. (6)

31 Dec 1939
HMS Oswald (Lt.Cdr. G.M. Sladen, RN) conducted A/S exercises off Malta together with HMS Dainty (Cdr. F.M. Walton, RN).

On completion of these exercises HMS Oswald returned to Malta while HMS Dainty set course for Gibraltar. She was to proceed to the South Atlantic Station. (6)

7 Jan 1940
HMS Oswald (Lt.Cdr. G.M. Sladen, RN) conducted exercises off Malta together with HMS Diamond (Lt.Cdr. P.A. Cartwright, RN). (7)

10 Jan 1940
HMS Oswald (Lt.Cdr. G.M. Sladen, RN) conducted exercises off Malta together with HMAS Vendetta (Lt.Cdr. G.L. Cant, RAN) and HMAS Waterhen (Lt.Cdr. J.H. Swain, RN). On completion of the exercises HMAS Vendetta set course to proceed to Alexandria. (8)

16 Jan 1940
During 16 and 17 January 1940, HMS Oswald (Lt.Cdr. G.M. Sladen, RN), conducted exercises off Malta.

On the 17th a practice attack was made on the aircraft carrier HMS Glorious (Capt. G. D'Oyly-Hughes, DSO, DSC, RN) and the destroyers HMS Bulldog (Lt.Cdr. J.S.M. Richardson, RN) and HMAS Vendetta (Lt.Cdr. G.L. Cant, RAN) which were approaching Malta coming from Alexandria. Also A/S exercises were carried out with the destroyers. (7)

20 Jan 1940
HMS Oswald (Lt.Cdr. G.M. Sladen, RN) conducted A/S exercises off Malta together with HMS Wolsey (Cdr. C.A.N. Chatwin, RN). (7)

22 Jan 1940
HMS Oswald (Lt.Cdr. G.M. Sladen, RN) conducted exercises off Malta. (7)

23 Jan 1940
HMS Oswald (Lt.Cdr. G.M. Sladen, RN) conducted exercises off Malta together with HMS Lowestoft (Cdr. A.M. Knapp, RN). (7)

24 Jan 1940
HMS Oswald (Lt.Cdr. G.M. Sladen, RN) conducted exercises off Malta. (7)

26 Jan 1940
HMS Oswald (Lt.Cdr. G.M. Sladen, RN) conducted exercises off Malta together with HMS Defender (Lt.Cdr. St.J.R.J. Tyrwhitt, RN). (7)

27 Jan 1940
HMS Oswald (Lt.Cdr. G.M. Sladen, RN) conducted exercises off Malta together with HMS Decoy (Cdr. E.G. McGregor, RN) and HMS Defender (Lt.Cdr. St.J.R.J. Tyrwhitt, RN). On completion of the exercises both destroyers set course for Gibraltar. (7)

31 Jan 1940
HMS Oswald (Lt.Cdr. G.M. Sladen, RN) conducted exercises off Malta together with HMAS Waterhen (Lt.Cdr. J.H. Swain, RN) and HMAS Vampire (Lt.Cdr. J.A. Walsh, RAN) which were conducting A/S, gunnery and torpedo firing exercises off Malta.

[No logs of HMS Oswald are available for the period February - April 1940 so no detailed history can be given for this period.] (9)

1 Feb 1940
HMAS Waterhen (Lt.Cdr. J.H. Swain, RN) conducted A/S exercises off Malta. This must have been with either HMS Oswald (?) or HMS Osiris (Lt.Cdr. R. Sheridan-Patterson, RN) as these were the only two submarines at Malta. (10)

5 Feb 1940
HMAS Stuart (Cdr. H.M.L. Waller, RAN) and HMAS Waterhen (Lt.Cdr. J.H. Swain, RN) conducted A/S exercises off Malta. This must have been with either HMS Oswald (?) or HMS Osiris (Lt.Cdr. R. Sheridan-Patterson, RN) as these were the only two submarines at Malta.

On completion of the A/S exercises, HMAS Stuart conducted gunnery exercises while HMAS Waterhen set course to proceed to Marseilles. (11)

10 Feb 1940
HMAS Stuart (Cdr. H.M.L. Waller, RAN) and HMAS Vampire (Lt.Cdr. J.A. Walsh, RAN) conducted A/S and gunnery exercises off Malta.

The submarine which participated in the A/S exercises must have been HMS Oswald as she was the only submarine at Malta at that time.

On completion of the exercises HMAS Vampire set course for Marseilles. (12)

19 Feb 1940
Off Malta, HMAS Voyager (Lt.Cdr. J.C. Morrow, RAN), conducted range and inclination and A/S exercises with HMS Oswald (?) serving as target.

HMAS Voyager departed Malta later the same day to escort the transport Duchess of Athol (British, 20119 GRT, built 1928) to Alexandria. (13)

8 Mar 1940
HMAS Voyager (Lt.Cdr. J.C. Morrow, RAN) and HMS Westcott (Lt.Cdr. W.F.R. Segrave, RN) conducted torpedo firing exercises off Malta. They also conducted A/S exercises with HMS Oswald (Lt.Cdr. D.A. Fraser, RN). (13)

15 Mar 1940
HMAS Vendetta (Lt. J. Smallwood, RN) conducted exercises off Malta. These included A/S exercises which must have been with HMS Oswald (Lt.Cdr. D.A. Fraser, RN) as she was the only submarine based at Malta.

On completion of the exercises HMAS Vendetta set course for Marseilles. (14)

2 Apr 1940
HMAS Stuart (Cdr. H.M.L. Waller, RAN) and HMAS Vendetta (Lt. R. Rhoades, RAN) conducted A/S exercises off Malta with HMS Oswald (Lt.Cdr. D.A. Fraser, RN). (15)

22 Apr 1940
HMAS Vendetta (Lt. R. Rhoades, RAN) conducted exercises off Malta. These included A/S exercises with the submarine HMS Oswald (Lt.Cdr. D.A. Fraser, RN). On completion of the exercises HMAS Vendetta set course to proceed to Gibraltar. (16)

3 May 1940
HMS Oswald (Lt.Cdr. D.A. Fraser, RN) and HMS Osiris (Lt.Cdr.(Retd.) J.R.G. Harvey, RN) conducted exercises off Malta. (17)

15 May 1940
HMS Oswald (Lt.Cdr. D.A. Fraser, RN) departed Malta for Alexandria. (17)

19 May 1940
HMS Oswald (Lt.Cdr. D.A. Fraser, RN) arrived at Alexandria. (17)

24 May 1940
HMS Oswald (Lt.Cdr. D.A. Fraser, RN) and HMS Osiris (Lt.Cdr.(Retd.) J.R.G. Harvey, RN) conducted exercises off Alexandria. (17)

25 May 1940
HMS Oswald (Lt.Cdr. D.A. Fraser, RN) conducted A/S exercises off Alexandria with HMS Decoy (Cdr. E.G. McGregor, RN) and HMS Defender (Lt.Cdr. St.J.R.J. Tyrwhitt, RN) and later together with HMS Kingston Crystal (Lt.Cdr. G.H.P. James, RNR) and HMS Sindonis (Ch.Skr. G. Rawding, RNR). (17)

27 May 1940
HMS Oswald (Lt.Cdr. D.A. Fraser, RN) conducted exercises off Alexandria. (17)

28 May 1940
HMS Oswald (Lt.Cdr. D.A. Fraser, RN) conducted exercises off Alexandria together with HMS Imperial (Lt.Cdr. C.A.deW. Kitcat, RN). (17)

29 May 1940
HMS Oswald (Lt.Cdr. D.A. Fraser, RN) and HMS Phoenix (Lt.Cdr. G.H. Nowell, RN) conducted exercises off Alexandria with HMAS Voyager (Lt.Cdr. J.C. Morrow, RAN). (18)

30 May 1940
HMS Oswald (Lt.Cdr. D.A. Fraser, RN) conducted A/S exercises off Alexandria together with HMS HMS Hostile (Cdr. J.P. Wright, RN), HMS Hasty (Lt.Cdr. L.R.K. Tyrwhitt, RN) and HMS Imperial (Lt.Cdr. C.A.de W. Kitcat, RN) and later on the day together with HMS Nubian (Cdr. R.W. Ravenhill, RN) and HMS Mohawk (Cdr. J.W.M. Eaton, RN). (17)

3 Jun 1940
HMS Oswald (Lt.Cdr. D.A. Fraser, RN) conducted exercises off Alexandria. (19)

11 Jun 1940
HMS Oswald (Lt.Cdr. D.A. Fraser, RN) departed Alexandria for her 2nd war patrol. She was ordered to patrol in the Karpathou Strait. Later patrol area was shifted to the Dardanelles.

For the daily positions (though incomplete) of HMS Oswald during this patrol see the map below. No positions are known after 30 June 1940 as th log for July 1940 was lost with HMS Oswald.

(19)

7 Jul 1940
HMS Oswald (Lt.Cdr. D.A. Fraser, RN) ended her 2nd war patrol at Alexandria. (20)

20 Jul 1940
HMS Oswald (Lt.Cdr. D.A. Fraser, RN) departed Alexandria for her 3rd war patrol. She was ordered to patrol off the east coast of Sicily. (21)

30 Jul 1940
HMS Oswald (Lt.Cdr. D.A. Fraser, RN) made an unsuccesful attack on a large Italian convoy about 20 nautical miles to the south of Cape dell'Armi. The Italian destroyer Grecale which was near the merchant vessel Col di Lana reported being missed.

The convoy attacked by Oswald was made up of the Italian merchant vessels Maria Eugenia (4702 GRT, built 1928), Gloriastella (5490 GRT, built 1922), Mauly (5942 GRT, built 1925), Bainsizza (7933 GRT, built 1930), Col di Lana (5891 GRT, built 1926), Francesco Barbaro (6343 GRT, built 1940) and Citta di Bari (3220 GRT, built 1927). They had departed Naples, escorted by the torpedo boats Procione, Orione, Orsa and Pegaso. From Catania, Sicily the destroyers Maestrale, Libeccio, Grecale and Scirocco joined the convoy.

Oswald reported this convoy by radio.

1 Aug 1940
On 1 August 1940, HMS Oswald (Lt.Cdr. D.A. Fraser, RN), sent her last signal reporting enemy cruisers proceeding northwards through the Straits of Messina. (21)